Shotlist

Illustrates specific detail how good manners can be applied in many of the situations in which boys and girls find themselves every day. Emphasizes that teenagers can cultivate good manners by manifesting a real desire to get along with others.

Ken Smith sez: This classic stars "Woody" from Dating Dos and Don'ts -- a few years older, but just as out of touch with reality. As "Jack," he goes through this entire film being unbelievably polite, but the weird leer on his face makes you wonder what he's really thinking. Don't miss the soda shop populated by waitresses in Hans Brinker costumes(!), or the montage of adults thinking approvingly of Jack's behavior.
01:02:50:00 - 01:04:28:00
CU sign reading "Watch It! Your Manners Are Showing!"; waitress enters frame; track to MS waitress serving customers; waitress rings up sale at cash register; 2 teenage girls enter cafe and walk over to 2 boys sitting at table; VS they all converse; boys seat the girls, then themselves; waitress comes and takes their orders

01:05:51:00 - 01:06:44:00
MS teenage boy walking down stairs; girl walks out of living room and greets him at bottom of stairs (both holding school books); boy sets books down, puts on jacket and answers telephone; MCU boy talking on phone; MCU man in suit talking on other end of phone; boy hangs up and writes down message; boy and girl call into living room; mother walks out of kitchen and sees them to the door

01:06:44:00 - 01:08:55:00
MS teenage boy and girl walk out front door of house, down stairs and along sidewalk, talking; high angle MS they pass man as they walk, saying hello; both meet another girl at bus stop; they all converse; they get on "Glenview Bus Co., Inc." bus, allowing older woman to go ahead of them; they find seat in back of crowded bus; VS 2 guys in another seat horsing around, people watch, irritated; MCU teenage girl brushing her hair onto woman in seat behind her; woman brushes falling hair off her skirt; MS boy and 2 girls in back seat, politely conversing; MS bus stops, boy gets off first and assists the girls; they all walk toward school building

01:08:55:00 - 01:10:28:00
VS of MS teacher in front of high school class, lecturing; CU boy attentively listening; MCU teacher looks o.s., annoyed; MCU 2 girls gossiping, one looks o.s. and they quit talking; teacher finishes and class gets up to leave; MS 2 boys talking and shaking hands; they walk out of classroom and down hall together, looking at brochure; girl walks by them and drops books as she approaches library; boy picks up books and opens library door for her; she smiles and boys walk on

01:10:28:00 - 01:11:16:00
MS group of teenage boys and girls walking together away from school building; group walks to car and boy opens passenger door to let them in; boy walks to drivers side and gets in; VS car driving down road stops to let pedestrian cross

Reviews

Overly polite kids but that's the way things were in the upper middle class subs like Glencoe, north of Evanston, IL in mid 20th century. Maybe it's me but didn't that house seem to have an awful lot of steps going to the second floor?

And I could swear that that was the same classroom that they filmed Hoppy The Bunny - same clock and door in same place; same filming aspect. Different teacher; bigger kids. Still 2:30.

That might be Hillary Clinton's old neighborhood - or certainly nearby.

Maybe life wouldn't be perfect, but it sure would be better than it is without manners. A common complaint about films like this is that they don't show the world the way it is. It's not supposed to. It's supposed to show an ideal situation in hopes that we can come closer to it. So instead of making fun, how about trying what it says. Maybe it'll improve your part of the world.

Reviewer:jazzfan -
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May 10, 2010 Subject:
Back in the days..............

People had more manners. People should use this film to train the Obama Generation.

Well the point of the film seems to be to be courteous even when authority figures aren't around to force a correction...
I did, however, notice one faux pas, that was actually mentioned but in error. When Jack & sister leave the haus he lets 'ladies first' go ahead then follows down the steps but in going down the steps of the bus - he preceeds. Actually a gentleman leads downhill in almost all situations ('n case she trips she'll land upon him).
And why was the action so deliberate and un-hurried? 'Cause Jak and the courteous crew left in plenty of time so as to arrive on time rather than be rushing and making mistakes.
Mind Your Manners always 'cause they are always showing... 8-?

Like the film, "Obligations," this naive film gives the rules for an ideal American middle class family life... NO, anger, no problems- everything is perfect in life when you follow the rules and have manners. A nice fantasy.

In the ever escalating war of the "Dating Do's and Don'ts" kids of who made the most Coronet films? Alan or Woody? Alan tries to even up the score by starring as "Jack" who is just about the most poiite kid you'll meet, staying home and sharing pleasantries with the family while eating breakfast, letting the women get on the bus first, and paying attention in school! Just what universe are we talking about here? Of course Jack is just about the most popular guy in school, and even strangers think so too.. Why, just listen to their convenient voice overs!